Time and zone metering device



Nov. 16, 1937. Q MUCK Er AL TIME AND ZONE METERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet l ziikllll in J2:

OTTO MUCK LUDW/G F MULLER Now/.16, 1937. MUCKH' 2,099,616

TIME AND ZONE METERING DEV'JFCE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IAIITIII V \J\ "HHIHIHIHI nmmlgTll HIM" w WM- OTTO MU'CK LUDW/GF MULLER PAUL 2/5}? NOV. 16, Q MUCK T- TIME AND ZONE METERING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 29, 1935 Nov. 16, 1937.

o. MUcK ET AL 2,099,616

TIME AND ZONE METERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 OTTO MUCK LUDW/G F MULLER PAUL Z/ER Nw. 16, 1937. mm AL 2,099,616

TIME AND ZONE METERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 raw 2! I M y e a 7 7 Un/MIA.

Orro Much" Luow/e E MULLER Paw. Z/ER Nov. 16, 1937. O MUCK Er AL 2,099,616

. TIME AND ZONE IETERING ,DEVICE M Filed Aug. 29, 1935 a sheets-sne t e am 100 IO- TF8 I 37 206 ZIZ l,

. Z23 v OTTO MUCK Luow/c; E MULLER Z BquL Z/ER '79 6 9 auowel Nov. 16, 1937. 0, ug 5 2,099,616

TIME AND ZONE "ET-BRING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 a Sheets-Sheet 7 OTTO'MUCK Luow/e E MULLER PAUL ZIER Nov. 16, 1931. 1 CK Er AL 2,099,616

TIME AND ZONE METERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet a i a: i 7/ l I 3M 0TT0 Muc/r Luow/e E MULLER Patented Nov. 16, 1937' UNITED STATES THVIE AND ZONE METERING DEVICE Otto Muck, Marquartstein, and Ludwig F. Muller and Paul Zier, Munich, Germany Application August 29, 1935, Serial No. 38,466

In Germany April 28, 1931 34 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations. These devices are provided for recording the charges to be made for calls, which charges are determined by the zone in which the called subscribers exchange is situated and by the duration of the 7 connection. The known devicesof this type use a time switch arrangement which is constructed as a selector and which is provided withas many 3 switch arms as there are zone values. All these switch arms are stepped periodically during the conversation so that at the end of the converse-- tion a particular contact is'marke'd by the switch arm of the particular zone which was selected by a zone determining device constructed as a simultaneous movement mechanism and is then discovered by a meter stepping mechanism which leads to a simultaneous transmission of numerical current impulses. The time switches of these 20 known devices are thus necessarily bulky and necessitate a considerable amount of wiring between their large number of contacts and the meter stepping mechanism. I

The object of the invention is to simplify considerably the known arrangements for time and zone metering. V

The new meter stepping mechanism in accordance with the invention is energized for being stepped forward by a time switching device at the beginning or the end of a particular period of time and isprovided with devices which, at each energization, allow a stepping to take place,

i the extentof which depends upon the value of the connection ascertained by. a zone determining device. For this purpose, the meter stepping mechanism can send out current impulses directly for influencing the meter at each stepping. The individual steppings can be used, however, for storing the metering current impulses which/in that case, are sent out at the end of the connection sent out by the return movement of the meter stepping nechanism into the normal position.

constructed as a rotary disc provided with devices for determining the extent of its rotation which,

Preferably, the meter stepping mechanism is trol. Likewise, the energizations produced for the stepping can be produced by means of the periodically stepping time switch device by acting electrically or mechanically on the meter stepping mechanism. 5

By means of the invention, a time and zone metering device can be obtained in, which there is no complicated wiring between the time switch device and the meter stepping mechanism. Also, the time switch device can itself be considerably simplified as it no longer has to be provided with a number of switch members corresponding to the number of zone values.

In particular, the invention allows the time switch device and also the meter stepping mechanism to be so constructed that on alteration of thetariff, that is'to say, both when an alteration is made to the length of time at the expiration of which a charge is incurred and also in the units which are used for charging for the individual periods of time and for the various zones, a corresponding adjustment of the time switch device and/or the meter stepping mechanism can easily be undertaken.

In order that the invention may be thoroughly understood and be more readily carried into eflfect, two examples of construction in accordance therewith will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 10 relate to a time-zone meter in which the meter steppingdevice is electrically influenced by a time switch device and by a zone determining device while Figures 11 to 16 relate to a. time-zone meter in which the stepping device is influenced mechanically.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic front view of the time switch device and the meter stepping device. a

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of th time switch device and the meter stepping device.

Figures 3 and 4 show-in side elevation and in section one. of the selectors of. the zone determining device.

in two positions a control device for the meter stepping device.

Figures ,8 to 10 show the general front, rear and'side elevations respectively of arrangement of the time and meter stepping devices.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the time-zone meter of the second example or construction. I

Figure 12 shows a section through the timezone meter.

Figure 13 shows the meter stepping mechanism. Figure 14 shows a detail of construction of a mechanical zone determining device.

Figure 15 shows a contact arrangeme t of the I zone determining device, and

rearward direction through a driving member it.

I as

A stepping magnet DV, the pawl of which can engage in teeth formed on the driving member it, is provided for stepping the driving member lt. A similar electromagnet DR is provided for stepping the drivingmember it. The two driving members lt and lil whichare inthe form oi ratchet wheels are arranged on the sleeve it which also'carries the disc ll. This sleeve also carries a cam 28 through which contacts drl, t and ll can be actuated. I

InFigures 6 and 7, for the sake of clearness, the ratchet wheel lt is shown smaller than the ratchet wheel it. .In practice, the two wheels are preferably of the same diameter. The 'two wheels it and it are provided with the same number of teeth. The toothed wheel ltl serves ilor stepping the disc ll in the clockwise direction and the toothed wheel l3 ilor stepping in the counter-clockwise direction. A check pawl. Sl pivotally mounted on. the pin LSl engages with the ratchet'wheel l2. The tail of the pawl Sl carries a lever Zl pivotally mounted on the pin ZSl and connected at one end to a spring Fl Hill on a lever Hl forming an extension oi the ping the wheel is. pivotally mounted on .on energization of, the magnet DV. A; spring which pulls one arm of the lever-Zl against a pin TSl on the pawl Sl and Sl to engage in the teeth of the wheel l2. The pawl St is constructed'in the same way relatively to the wheel ld as is clear iromFlgure 6 -on the left hand side of which will be iound references corresponding to those on the right hand side; I I

A driving pawl Al pivotally mounted on the pin armature otthe magnet DV is provided for stem The armature lever Hl is the pin ml and is moved normally" holds the lever Hi in the illustrated position in which the pawl Al bears on a-pin Tl and is thus out of engagement with theteeth of the wheel it. The stepping mechanism tor the wheelit consisting of the armature lever H2 and the driving pawl At is constructed in the same manner as that for the wheel l2 as-can clearly be seen from an inspection of the right hand side of Figure 6 where the parts have been given references corresponding to those on; the leit hand side. I I I It" is clear that the driving pawl Al. tor the wheel l2 lies'close to 'the checkpawl Stfor. the wheel it and the driving pawl A2 lies closeto the check pawl Sl. The two ratchet wheels l2' spending number of thus causes the pawl cams lt on corresponding and i3 and, therefore, the disc I l are held against rotation in either direction by the two check pawls Si and S2.

- Stops Pl or P2 are arranged on the armature ,levers HI and H2, one of which, on movement of the corresponding armature lever, abuts against the appropriate lever Zl or Z2 and thus lifts' the check pawl associated with it out of engagement with the appropriate wheel.

' In Figure 7, the arrangement is shown in the position in which the armature of the magnet DR.

is about half attracted. During The first part of the movement of attraction, the stop P2 oi the armature lever H2 abuts against the lever Zl and forces it bodily towards the left so that the check pawl SI is removed ,from the teeth of the wheel it while "the driving pawl A2 slides down on the fixed pin T2 and comes into engagement with the teeth of the wheel l3. As the movement of attraction of the armature continues, the stop P2 clears the lever Z! and when the armature .is fully attracted, the check pawl Si is again free from the influence oi the stop P2 pawl At is being disengaged.

The pawls Al and S2 are actuated by the magnet DV in the same way as are the pawls A2 and Si by the magnet DR. Whenever, the disc Ii is stepped by one of always removed out of engagement with the latter. I

The disc ll of the tariff member (Fig. 1) has the wheels l2 and i3, the check pawl associated with the other wheel is" teeth it formed in its periphery through which a contact to can be actuated.

A number of series of earns it are arranged on the two faces of the disc ll. These cams are arranged so that one or the other of a corresets of contacts 203, zo5,.z0.'l and got, and, cot, 208 arranged on the front and on the rear sides of the disc can be actuated by them according to the angular disposition of the disc.

In the example shown in Figure l, the cams [6 are arranged on the front side of the disc H in seven concentric rows, the cams in each of which can actuate one,oi seven'diflerent sets of contacts cot to and, which correspond to zone values 2 \to t. Cams and contacts are arranged in simi- '7 la r rows on the rear side of the disc ill (see Figure 2) but circles is different on the lront andon the rear sides of the disc ll.

The angular distance between two cams on one circlecorresponds to the meter units which are to be registered at the beginning of a particular 1 period of time, for a call to] the zone correspondingto that circle. More units have to be registered on the meter-fora call 01' a certain duration to a particularzone during the'daytime than during the night. (For example, only two thirds the angular distance between the of the-day charge may be made at night.) The m cams on one side or the disc H can thus correspond to the side of.v the disc correspond'to the night tariff, th relationship between thehhgtilardistances' on etwo sides being the-same as that between day tariff and the cams on the other .has ratchet teeth I! on its circumference in which can engage the stepping pawl of a driving magnet DZ. This time disc I! also carries several series of cams ls arranged in concentric circles which can actuate contacts.

In Figure 1 four sets of contacts dz3, dzl, dz5 and trz are illustrated which are controlled by four circles of cams l9. Further sets of contacts such, for example, as the set dzl, 2 can be directly controlled by a cam disc 20 fixed to the disc I1. The cams l9 and the cam 20 serve for controlling the various contacts with special settings of the time disc I! for carrying out the necessary switching operations.

The stepping switch mechanism illustrated in Figures 3 and-4 forms part of the zone determining device. This switch mechanism comprises a contact panel 2| with nine rows each of 110 contacts and a rotary selector 23 carrying nine switching'arms 24 insulated from each other arranged on a shaft 22. The selector 23 is provided with two stepping wheels 25 and 26. The

stepping wheel 25 has 11 teeth in which the driving pawl of a magnet DB can engage. When the wheel 25 is stepped through one tooth, the switch arm is moved over 10 contacts of the panel 21. The second stepping wheel 26 has 110 teeth in which the driving pawl of a magnet DC can engage. A-number of cam discs 21 are also connected to theselector 23 with which sets of contacts wb and we are in contact. These contacts are thus controlled by the cams 21 on rotation of the selector 23. When such a rotation is effected by the intermittent energization of one of the magnets DB or DC, the switch arms 24 move freely past the contacts on the panel 2!. establishing electrical contact between the switch arms 24 and the contacts, the selector 23 is axially displaced by the armature of a magnet EM so that the switch arms are pressed on to the-contacts. The armature of the magnet EM is mechanically locked in its attracted position and is only released againon energization of a magnet AM.

For selection of one of the nine switch arms 24' of the selector 23, a usual 10-point step-by-step switch is used which is constructed in the ordinary way of well-known preselectors and is set by current impulses. 1

The circuit illustrated in Figure 5 shows the path of the current for the various stepping magnets and the necessary controlling relays of a time-zone meterwhich, for example, is connected in the connecting line connected to the contact bank of a first group selector leading to a second group selector. It is assumed that three series of current impulses are necessary for determining the zone which at the same time effect the setting of a second, a third and a fourth group selector. The emission of these current impulses simultaneously eifects the settingof the selector of the zone determining device and indeed, the first series of current impulses controls the switch arm da of a 10-point stepping switch mechanism which is driven by the switching magnet DA,

For

while the second series of current impulses influences the magnet DB of the selector illustrated .in Figures 3 and 4 which steps the switch arms of the latter through 10 steps at each energization. The third series of current impulses then influences the magnet DC which steps the switch arms of this selector through single steps. The switch arms of the zone determining device are only diagrammatically indicated in the drawings. The switch arms 24 of the selector illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are designated db/ci db/c2-8 in Figure 5. Only two such switch arms and and corresponding series of contacts are indicated but in practice nine are provided. a

The contacts, the references of which are underlined in Figure 5, are mechanically controlled by one of the above-mentioned stepping switch mechanisms. The contacts wal, 2, and 3 represent contacts which are controlled by the shaft of the 10-point stepping switch mechanism which is stepped by the magnet DA. They are closed on the return of this selectorto the normal position. The contacts wbl and wb2 represent contacts which are thrown by the shaft of the 110-point selector on its leaving the normal position. The contacts we! and wc2 are only actuated'by the shaft of this selector when a stepping is effected by the magnet DC. In the positions of rest into which the switch arms of this selector are stepped at various times by the magnet DB, the contacts wc remain in the normal position. v

The contacts dZl-S represent contacts which are actuated by the various cams 19 of the time disc ll. The figures appended to the reference dz indicate the positions in which these contacts I group selector arranged in advance of it, the hold-.

ing relay C in the time-zone meter is energized in a circuit which runs from the first group se lector (not illustrated), through the line 0, the

contact st3, the relay 0, the contact 83, the line to the second group selector (not-illustrated) The relay C thus responds and, through its contact c2, closes the following circuit for the magnet DZ of the timeswitch member:

+, 10-second switch SS, contact 02, time meter ZD, contact e4, stepping magnet DZ,

The contact 04 closes a holding circuit for the relay 0 so that the latter remains energized independently of the voltage in the line 0" in the second groupselector. The contact disconnects the line 0' from the line 0" through which, for example, the outgoing connecting line can be seized by the distant exchange.

The -second switch SS closes the circuit for the magnet DZ every 10 seconds sothat the time disc is stepped through one step every 10 seconds. This stepping is alsoused in order to prevent the time-zone meter being held engaged for an unnecessarily long time. As, in general, no charge is made for the time which elapses between the seizing of the time-zone meter and the instant at which the called subscriber removes his receiver, a subscriber can, as a rule, hold a valuable trunk line for an unrestricted period by means of an incomplete dialling operation. If this waste of engaged time is to be restricted to a maximum cut-off relay S is closed:-

contacts stl, ci, 3!, vi, trz, winding I-of relay 8,- I Relay S "responds in this circuit, disconnects the line by the opening of its contacts si 2, and 3 a relay H is also energized through its winding I and prepares the circuit for the energization of the relay U. The relay H is slow to release and holds its armature. attracted during the trans:-

whereupon the second group selector becomes mission of current impulses. seizable by means of the distant exchange over At the end of the second series of current imthe lines a, b, 0' through the contact s3. By pulses, which effect the stepping of the switch means of the contact s4, the following energizing arm db/c in large steps, the relay V again drops, circuit is closedfor the relay E: interrupts the holding circuit for the relay R contacts std, cf, 34, winding III of with its contact all and, at the same time, through 1.

relay E, I its contact cl, closes the following energizing cirwhile the contact 35 closes the following circuit cult for the relay U:- for the buzzer Sui contacts. S 4, cl, zl, vi. hi, winding I of contacts std, cl, winding HI of relay B, relay U, contacts wa2, e3,wc2,magnet DA,---

winding m of relay J, contact s5, condenser, Well as the following holding circuit for the 15 buzzer Sui I relay Hz- A- deeper buzzing tone is thus produced in the t cts c z M, M, M, winding 11 windings I, II of the relay J which lie in, the f r ay H. nta tsv ,w as t A. speaker line which informs the subscriber of the The r l y U sp s w its Contact cutting off of the connection. switches the circuit over from the magnet DB to a.

The relay E holds up during the closing of its he magnet DC. contact at through its windings I, II, opens the When, during the third series of current imimpulse circuit for the setting of the zone de-' pulses, the relay V again responds, the holding termini'ng device by means of its contact at and, circuit for the relay. H is interrupted by the conthrough its contact e4, brings the time disc to tact of, while, on the other hand, the following 8 rest. When the calling subscriber hangs up, all holding circuit for the relay U is closed:- v parts of the said switch mechanism which have +,-contacts st4, zi, oi, f4, a2, winding II of been displaced return into the normal position in relay U,-- almanner which will be described in more detail At the end of the third series of current imlater on. pulses, the relay V drops but again in a delayed The case will now be considered in which the fashion and with its contact at closes the followsubscriber sends out the various series of current ing circuit for the magnet EM:--' impulses for making the connection within the contacts stfl, cl, at, of, met, 15, e5, magnet above mentioned time. During each emission of EM,-- current impulses, the relay J will be intermittently This circuit is closed during the time during which 3| energized through its windings I, If in the folthe relay U is tie-energized. On being enerlowing circuit: gized, the magnet EM presses the switch arms a-wire, relay J, windings I and If, contact db/c of the zone selector (which is free to move di7 during the stepping) on to the contacts of By means of the contact ii, the current impulses the contact bank, The armature of the magnet are transmitted to the o."-wire and the selector EM is mechanically locked so that the contact vof the Zone determining v ee is al o For remains made also when the'magnet is'no longer this purpose, the contact it is formed as a double energized. The contact wci lying in th energize, make contact and closes the following circuits: tion circuit of the magnet EM is, similarly to the cts 01 $flpwire 0i" contact wct, reversed in single steps during the 4| and I stepping of the switch arm through the magnet contacts da t, cfl, chat, all rt ,wct, stepping Dc,

magnet A contact-is now selected by the switch arm The p-by-step enersizati n of e magnet db/c selected by the setting of the switch arm da, DA and, therefore, the step-by-step stepping of this contact being connected to the zone contacts 5. the Switch arm em 01? the first Selector of the 202 to h. Only three of the zone contacts 202 to zone determining device is edected by the (i set are shown, but'each of these is double, one rent impulses, During the series of cu t for the day side and the other for the night side Pulses the e a V is at the Same time energized of the tarifi switch. At this instant, the contacts through the Contact m which 15 Slow to release and are, however, at rest because'the disc of the tariff 5 holds its armature attracted during th p witch has not yet been stepped. It is assumed between time N current impulses At the that the zone 3, for example, corresponds to the and the t ewes f impulses the connection determined by the three emitted relay v drops by means/of the Contact series of current impulses so that the contact 203 Switches inme WIWR m the following circumis selected by the switch arms do and db/ci. The 0.

coptacts winding 1 of following short circuit for the winding I of the relay Bantams magnet rela S is now closed through the normal position Relay R respondsand, by means of its contact w I 1 rt, switches the stepping circuit over from the of thls con 0 magnet DA to themagnet DB. contact sot, switcharms db/ci, da, con- When, during the second series of current imtacts 1512' wtndmg I pulses, the relay V again responds, the circuit In absence of @1115 Short f fi relay running through the winding I of the relay R is S u d energizedfihmugh its 1 I and v interrupted by the switching over of the contact the 01nd be -fil l 1S always g and, in its place, the fonowing .holding the case when the selectec :witch arm (112/0 m; is closed through the winding- 1 bf the r comes on to a contact which is connected with Jay none of the zone contacts, that is to say, when a t t td, t, t, t,v -2, winding 11 f connection to an exchange is selected which is not I relay R l zoned and thus does not exist. In this case, 75,' Dul'1ng this second series of current impulses, the cutting on ofthe'connection will be effected 73 by the time-zone meter and the line will become disengaged.

During all the time taken by the setting of the zone determining device, the time disc is stepped every 10 seconds. determining device, the meter device given when the called subscriber answers is not received within three minutes after the seizing of the time-zone meter, then, as has already been explained above, the time switch, at the eighteenth step, will actuate the contact ire by means of a cam so that the short circuit for the winding I of the relay S is interrupted and so that the relay S responds and cuts off the connection.

The bringing into action of the meter when the desired subscriber answers is effected in known fashion by switching current on to the 1)" line in the subsequently arranged selector. In this way the relay is energized in the following circuit:-

+, contacts 325%, c l, winding II of relay B, contacts 23, $2, b", In the known arrangements of time-zone meters, the meter can be prevented from being brought into operation if the calling subscriber dials N l in quick succession. This possibility is prevented by the special arrangement of the relay provided for bringing the meter into operation. Through a contact v2 of the relay V which is energized during an emission of current impulses by the calling subscriber, a second winding of the relay B is switched in in opposition to the winding II of this relay connected to the b"- wire. The result of this is that with a small alteration of the potential at the common switching point of the two windings, the relay B is made to respond with certainty.

The relay B is thus energized as a result of the indication that the meter is to be brought into operation and, by means of its contact bl, closes the following energizing circuit for the relay Z:-

contacts st4, cl, bl, meter ZGB, relay Z,- This relay Z is through parallel switching and forward connection delayed in its response by resistances so that it only responds when the impulses for setting the meter into operation are of sufiicient length. At the same time, a test is made through the contact M of the relay B as to whether the day or night tariff is in operation. During the night, the switch N is reversed so that the following circuit is closed for the winding III of the relay H through the contact b2:

contacts n, b2, i4, winding III of relay which maintains itself through its own contact h2 and, with its contact h3, switches the zone testing circuit on to the contacts 203 to 208 on the night side of the time disc. The relay Z, by the opening of the contact 23, opens the circuit for the relay B and also, by means of its contact 'zl, closes a holding circuit for itself. A relay interrupter formed by the relays R and U is also switched in by means of the contact zl in the following circuit:

contacts st4, cl, zl, 0123, r4, winding II of relay U,- The relay interrupter now, by means of the contact 1L2, effects the accelerated stepping of the time switch DZ into the position I8 through the following circuit:

contacts a3, f2, dzl, a2, magnet DZ, During the release of relay B, the stepping magnet DV of the tariff switching mechanism is energized once in the following circuit:-

If, after the setting of the zonev contacts std, cl, zl, (123, II, 125, magnet DV,-- The disc of the tariff switch gear is thus switched through one step and the contacts dvl, (i122 and (103 are reversed.

In the position l8 of the time disc, the contact 4123 is opened by a cam and the relay interrupter is thus disconnected. The time disc is now stepped every ten seconds through the 10-second switch SS.

At the nineteenth step of the time disc, the contact dzi is reversed and thus, the stepping circuit controlled by the contact u3 of the relay interrupter is transferred from the magnet DZ to the magnet DV which effects the forward connection of the tariff member. At the 20th step of the time switch, the contact 1123 is again closed and the relay interrupter is thus again brought into operation. A rapid stepping of the magnet DV and, therefore, of the tariff member is now effected by the contact a3 and, indeed, until the zone contact 203 mechanically selected by a cam is reversed. When this contact is reversed, the following circuit for the magnet DZ is closed:

+, contacts, si l, cl, 2|, v4, 73, switch arm da,

switch arm db/c, contacts 203, 723, magnet DZ, The time switch is thus stepped through one step on to the twenty-first step at which the contact 1:123 is again opened so that the relay interrupter is disconnected and no further stepping of the tariff member takes place. At the beginning of the conversation, the tariff member is, of course, stepped to an extent which corresponds to the basic charge for the selected zone.

The extent to which it is thus stepped is, for example, that corresponding to a conversation of a duration of up to three minutes. At the expiration of three minutes, the tariff member must, therefore, be further stepped. For this purpose, the contact 1123 through which the relay interrupter consisting of the relays R and U is switched is again closed, in the position 39, by the time switch which, during this period, has been stepped every 10 seconds by the switch SS. The contact u3 then again causes an intermittent energization of the magnet DV of the tariff member which is stepped until one of its cams reverses the selected zone contact 203. The following stepping circuit for the magnet DZ of the time disc is then again set up:--

+, contacts stl, cl, 2!, 114, T3, switch arm da,

switch arm db/cl, contact 203, h3, magnet The time disc is stepped through one step into the position in which the contact (Z23 is opened so that the relay interrupter is switched out and the stepping of the tarifi members is thus interrupted.

, Now, at the conclusion of any minute of the con versation, a further charge becomes due to be made. For this purpose, the time switch causes the tariff member to be stepped in the positions 46, 53, 60, 61,14, 8|, 88, 95. 1 g

In order to warn the speaking subscriber of the further charge to which he will be liable at the conclusion of the initial time allowance, the following buzzing circuit is closed by a dam of the time disc shortly before this charge becomes due, that is to say, before the tariff member is stepped:--

+, contacts std, cl, winding III of relay B,

winding III of relay J, contacts (125, th,

condenser, Su2 A higher buzzing tone is thus transmitted opening of its contact th, imposes a limit on the duration of the signal...

At the conclusion of the maximum allowable time of conversation, at the expiration of 12 minutes, for example, the time disc arrives in the position me. In this position, the contact trz is fully reversed by a cam of the time disc so that the double make contact is actuated. In this way, the following energizing circuit is closed for the disconnecting relay S:

+, contacts std, cl 2i, trz, winding I of relay S,- Relay S responds and, in the manner described above, causes the call to be cut ofi.

If the conversation ends before the expiration of the maximum allowable period, then, in known manner, when the calling subscriber hangs up,

current is switched on to the a wire in the group selector acting as a metering indicator. As a consequence, the relay J is energized in the circuit:-

Zz-wire, windings I and II of relay J, contacts d122, st2,+ The relay J short circuits its winding II by meanspf its contact l5 and thus strengthens the current flowing through the a-wire whereby the calling subscriber, in known fashion, is prevented from breaking the connection with the first group selector. The contact it prepares the meter repeater circuit while the relay V is energized through the contact it if the time disc is not exactly in a position in which the tariff member can he stepped. The following circuit is thus established:-

+, contacts dad, i2, relay V,-

The contact ct prepares the energization of the relay B andat the same time causes the relay F and the release magnet AM to be energized in the following circuit:

+, contacts std, ci, zl, ct, dot, relay F,--and magnet AM,-

On attraction of its armature, the magnet AM releases the mechanical locking of the armature of the magnet EM so that the switch arms db/c are removed from the contact bank and thus the zone testing circuit is interrupted. The relay F responds'and closes the following circuit with its contact it for the relay interrupted and for the energization of the relay S: contacts sit, cl, 2i, ct, d123, fl, rt, winding II of relay U,and contact 'ji, winding II of Contact it switches the stepping circuit intermittently closed by the contact at over to the magnet DR which now efiects the step by step return movement of the tariff disc into the normal position. Relay S, by opening of its contacts sll, s2, s3, cuts off the connection. The relay E is then energized through the contact st as follows:---

+, contacts st i, cl, st, winding III of relay and maintains itself through its contact ed.

-The contact e2 opens the circuit for setting the the tariff disc and, each time it is closed, energizes the relay B in the following circuit:

ci, 2!, M, tg, winding II of relay B,

At each response the relay B closes the following meter circuit through its contact b3: v meter ZS, contacts i3, b3, b-wire In order to reach the normal position, the disc of the tariff switch mechanism has to be moved back through the same angular amount as it was stepped forward during the conversation. The number of times the contact tg is closed thus corresponds to the number of the units of charge chargeable in accordance with the duration of the conversation and the selected zone.

When the tariff disc reaches its normal position, the contacts dvl, a302, (Z123 are again returned into the illustrated normal position. The contact dvi interrupts the stepping of the magnet DR. The contact 11122 interrupts-the energization circuit of the relay 0 which releases and thus also de-energizes the relay V. By the interruption of the circuit for the relay J, the prearranged first group selector is disconnected in known contacts sit,

fashion so that the'circuit for the relay C is also interrupted. After release of the relay C, ,the following energization circuit for the relay F is closed:- contacts std, cl, 1122, relay F,- which again effects the energization of the relay S, winding II. The magnet DA of the first selector of the zone determining device is now stepped into the normal position by means of the relay interrupter through the following circuit:

contacts 213, f2, doll, wal, magnet DA, In the normal position, the contact wal is reversed and thus the stepping circuit for the ma net DC is closed in the following circuit:

-I-', contacts 113, f2, dvL'wal, wd2, magnet DC, When the switch arms db/c reach the normal position, the contacts wbl and wb2 are reversed. The following stepping circuit for the time disc is now closed by the contact wb2:-

+, contacts 11.3, f2, dull, wal, 10b2, magnet When the time dischas also returned to the normal position, the contact (122 is opened and thus the energization circuit for relays F and S is interrupted. All the switch' means and relays are now back again in the normal position.

It can happen that certain exchanges only have two characteristic figures, the dialling of which is to determine the value of the zone to which it belongs. In this case, after the time zone meter is seized, only the switch arm, da is set by the emission of the second series of current impulses, the switch arms db/c being only incompletely set by being stepped through large steps. In order that the zone may be properly determined in this case, when the relay B and therefore the relay Z have been energized, the switch arms db/c are stepped through one additional step. During the time during which the relay B is de-energized, the following energizing circuit for the magnet DC is closed for a short time:--

+, contacts sit, cl, zi, dz3, fl, b5, ul, magnet At this instant, the relay U still holds its armature attracted because, due to the incomplete setting of the zone determining device, it remains energized until energization of the relay Z. The zone contact of such an exchange is therefore always closed during the first step of the decade determined by the two-figure call number.

If all the exchanges that can be selected have only two-figure call numbers as is, for example,

the case when the time-zone meter is connected behind a second group selector of a main ex- .change, then the selectors DA, do are dispensed If a call is made within the local zone or toaservice station, then there is no charge to be made according to the length of the conversation but only a single basic charge. The'exchanges of service stations have, for example, a l or a as the first effective figure of their call number. In this case, on release of the relay V after emission of the first series of current impulses which acts on the' time-zone meter, the relay E is energized in the following circuit:-

+, contacts std, cl, zl, vi, trz, da, winding I of relay E,-

The relay E closes a holding circuit with its contact ei through its windings I and II and, with its contact, e4, interrupts the stepping circuit for the time disc DZ. If then, the meter is subsequently. brought into operation by energization of the relays B and Z, as. already described, the magnet DV is energized once through the contact w until release of the reay B, so that the tariff disc is moved one step out of the normal position. When the connection is broken, the tariff disc must, therefore, be switchedback through one step into the normal position so that only one unit of charge is made through the contact tg.

There may be regulations to the effect that for calls between the various exchanges situated in a particular zone, the zone 2 for example,

only twolocal units are to be charged for an unrestricted time of conversation both during the day and during the night. For this purpose, the contact .202, which is reached with a particular setting of thezone determining device, is connected in such a way that on reversal of this contact by means of the cam of the stepped tariff disc, notonly is the time disc stepped through one step for bringing the tarifi disc to rest, but the relay S is also at the same time energized through its winding I so that no further stepping of the time disc takes place under the influence of the 'lO-second switch SS. The tariff disc cannot, therefore, be stepped further and, at the end of the connection, only a number of metering impulses corresponding. to this setting of the tariii disc, two, in the present example, can be transmitted.

If, for any reason, the tariff disc when stepped fails to test any zone contact at all, it is stepped into its zero position by the magnet DV. In this zero position, the fault relay St is energized in the following circuit:--

+, contacts std, cl, 2|, r5, ,3, winding I of relay St,contact d222,-

- Relay St, with its contact stl, closes a holding tarifl disc allows the calling subscriber to hang up in the case of error so that it is only the charge for a local conversation which becomes due to be made. The tariff disc is, in this case, only stepped through a single step when the called subscriber answers. If, however, the calling subscriber delays hanging up for more than 20 seconds, then as described, the tariff disc will be stepped tolthe basic extent determined by the d alled zone.

In the described example of construction, the units of charge incurred during the conversation were stored by the tarifi disc and were only transmitted to the calling subscribers meter at the end of the connection. This is not, however, necessarily the case in accordance with the invention. The switching steps can indeed be arranged to take place so that the transmission of the meter impulses to the calling subscribers meter is effected when the tarifi disc is stepped by the con tact tg without any storing of the meter impulses.

Clearly, special metering switches can be connected in the various circuits of the time-zone meter for statistical purposes. Thus, when the time-zone meter is seized by the prearranged first group selector, the lamp BL and the meter ZB are energized through the contact clso that the number of calls is recorded.

In the circuit in which the time disc is stepped under the'infiuence of the 10-second switch SS, is connected a meter ZD which indicates the time during which the time-zone meter remains seized. Ameter ZGD can also be connected to this circuit through the contact .24 of the relay Z energized after the meter is brought into operation and which records the duration of the conversation.

The meter ZGB lies in the energization circuit of the relay Z and, at each energization of the relay Z, is energized and therefore marks up the number of times the meter is eiiectively brought into operation. The meter switch ZS lies in the meter impulse circuit through which the meter impulses are transmitted to the b-wire and marks up the number of transmitted current impulses. By means of these five meter switches, all information necessary for statistical purposes can be obtained.

The general arrangement of the time and meter stepping device for the time and zone determining device with a time and tariff device is shown in Figures 8 to 10.

A stationary shaft W is mounted in two bearings Li and L2 on a base plate G. The time disc I"! is movably mounted on the shaft W in the neighbourhood of the bearing Li and can be stepped by means of an electromagnet DZ. On the side faces of the time disc I1, cams iii are ar ranged which control the sets of contact springs These sets of contact springs are also fixed on the base plate G.

The tariff disc H is arranged on the shaft V! in the neighbourhood of the bearing L2 and has on both side faces cams it which control the sets of contact springs 20. .The tariff disc H has teeth i 5 on its periphery for actuating the sets of contact springs tg. The two stepping ratchet wheels l2 and I3 are connected to the tariiT disc H through the sleeve M and are provided with oppositely disposed teeth. The wheel 12 is stepped by the magnet DV and the wheel l3 by the magnet DR.

A grease cap-FB serves for lubrication of the various hearings on the shaft W.

*In order that the space occupied .by the whole arrangement may be made relatively small, the

base plate G is formed with cut out portions through which the stepping wheels, the tariff disc, the driving magnets and the sets of contact springs project.

In the time-zone meter illustrated in Figures 11 to 16, the stepping of the zone value is effected by means of a mechanical zone determining device.

If three series of current impulses are necessary for determining the zone, then the zone determining device must be arranged so as to have 1000 different settings; A device is therefore provided which will be referred to as the criterion carrier which consists of a number of discs 2I3- Figures ll and 12) mounted on a sleeve H5. The discs are separated by distance pieces 2M and are'firmly pressed against a stop on the sleeve by means of a nut 2l6. The sleeve H5 is connected to a toothed wheel 2ll from which projects a pin 2|8 passing through holes in the discs 2E3 and thus preventing them from rotating relatively to the toothed wheel. The toothed wheel 2lll is also connected by means of pins M9 to a disc 220. A clock spring is arranged between the toothed wheel 2i'll and the disc 220 .and has one end fixed to the disc 220 while the other end is hooked on to a pin 22i which is arranged on the base plate 2M. The plate 220 carries a further sleeve 222 on which a toothed wheel 223 is fixed. This toothed wheel 223 has 11 teeth while the toothed Wheel 2H has 121 teeth. The toothed wheel 223 can be stepped by the pawl 224 of a magnet not illustrated in the drawings, whilethe toothed wheel 2!? can be stepped by another magnet not shown in the drawings. The assembly constituted by the toothed wheels 223 and 2H- and the discs 2 i3 is freely movable on a fixed shaft 2i2 mount-' ed in the base plate 2H and, in the normal position, is held by means of the clock spring 230. The normal position is determined by a projection 225 which abuts against a projection 22E pivotally mounted on the base plate. As this assembly is displaceable on the shaft 2i2, it is held against displacement bya screw 22!- inserted in the free end of the shaft. A pointer 228 is also preferably connected to the fixed shaft by means of the screw 221 so that the degree of displacement of the criterion carrier can be read off a scale arranged on the disc 229.

Each disc 2i3 has 121 teeth 3i. The teeth can be of diiierent lengths and eight different lengths are provided, each length corresponding to oneof the eight different zone values. The teeth are milled over the whole circumference of the disc while the lengths are'determined by stamping of concentric circles in the upper surface of the discs (Figure 14). 1

The teeth 3| of the disc 2i3 can be cut to the required length by means of a pair of nippers or other similar tool. As there are always several exactly similarly constructed time-zone meters in an exchange, it is only necessary to carry out this work by hand on the disc of one of them- This disc can then be used as atemplate for all the other devices which are milled in a simple manner as a bunch. In this way, an exact matching of the discs of all devices isobtained so that the testing need only extend to a single device. v

The provision of 121 teeth on each disc which is advantageous for the stepping of the criterion carrier in large and small steps has the advantage that the position of rest between the large step stepping and the small step stepping can be tion of the distant zone.

used for the evaluation. This is in particular necessary when, in a network of connections, a particular exchange can only be reached by passing through a particular operator, and, for establishinga connection to an operators station,

a smaller number of series of current impulses, 2 for example, is required than for the determina- For simplification of the circuits for bringing the zone determining device into operation, contacts are controlled by the criterion carrier. As soon as the criterion carrier leaves its position of rest when the large switching steps are effected by the toothed wheel 223, the movable stop 226 is released and rotates through a small angle so that the contact ow is closed. The rods 2l9 which connect the disc 220 to the toothed wheel 2|! and the casing of the clock spring are so arranged that in each position of rest which occurs between twor large steps of the criterion carrier, they may actuate a contact which is not illustrated in the drawings. This contact thus remains, after the displacement of the criterion carrier in large steps, in the same position in. which it finds itself in the normal position of the criterion carrier. It is only when the criterion carrier is rotated by the small step stepping efiected through the toothed wheel 2l'i and its associated electromagnet, by an amount which is smaller than the angular distance between two positions of rest, that the pin 2i|9 releases the contact which moves into its working position.

In order to prevent an undesired backward rotation of the criterion carrier under the influ- 1 ence of the clock spring during and after the setting, a check pawl'may be provided which is v in engagement with the teeth of the toothed wheel 2i'i.

For determining the tooth length corresponding to the selected setting, a feeler member 32 is provided. This feeler can carry out two movements. By the first movement, a disc 2i3 of the criterion carrier is selected, that is to say, a selection takes place from 10 groups each of 100 possible settings.) The second movement, which takes place in a direction radial to the disc 2i3,

' serves for establishing the length of the tooth corresponding to a particular setting, selected from the selected group of 100. Aspecial guide is provided for making possible this two-fold movement of the feeler member 32. A vertical and is slotted at 53 for the'passage of the feeler 32. The feeler 32 is formed with a bearing 4| which slides in the hollow part of the carrier 31 and is under the influence of a spring 42. The

feeler 32 can thus move longitudinally relatively to the carrier 31 with the carrier in a direction at right angles to that longitudinal direction.

For stepping the feeler along the carrier 31, a rack 43 is provided on which there isa pin 44 which lies in the forked end 45 of the feeler 32.

- The stepping pawl of an electromagnet which is not illustrated can engage with the rack 43. The

upper-part of the rack 43 has teeth 46 in which a check pawl 41 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 48 on the bearing 33 can engage.

The rack 43 is provided at its right hand end with a projection 49 forming a stop which, in the normal position of the rack, holds a contact nw open. when the rack makes its first step under the action of the unillustrated electromagnet, this contact nw is closed. The stop 49 also has resilient switch arms 58 fixed to it which, on movement of the rack, wipe over the contacts of a stationary contact bank fixed'in a suitable manner to the base plate 2. In this way, a special circuit can be closed at each step made by the rack 43. This arrangement for closing various circuits plays no part in the operation oi. the device for estimating the value of a particular setting of the criterion carrier.

"Ihe setting of the feeler 32 is thus effected" by stepping the rack 43 which carries the feeler with it. As therack and feeler move to the right,

. the compression spring 42 is energized and the magnetis energized, the carrier 31 and the feeler 32 are pressed downwards so that the lower end of the feeler moves downwards towards the criterion carrier. This downward movement con- Wtinues until the feeler encounters a resistance,

- terion carrier.

that is to say, until it abuts on the head of the tooth 3| (the length of which depends upon the unit of value) of the'selected disc 213 of the ori- The length of this engaging movement of the feeler member 32 thus corre sponds'to the particular unit of value. As is clear from the drawings, in the normal position, the forked projection of the feeler 32 lies on the upper surface of the shield 52 so that the feeler cannot return into that position before the selectlng movement is carried out.

The carrier 31 projects through a slot 56 in the base plate 2| I and on the far side of the base plate has a projection 51 which is connected to a.

rack 58 (Figure 13). A check pawl 53 fixed on the base plate 2| I engages in this rack 58 and prevents the carrier 31 from being lifted by the spring 38. The pitch of the teeth of this rack 58 corresponds exactly to the units of the value to be determined so that it is not necessary for the length of the various teeth in the discs 2l3 to. be absolutely accurate as long as it is within the limits of the length corresponding to a unit of value. The correct position of the carrier 31 is, indeed, always determined by the engagement of the pawl 59 in therack 58. The rack could, naturally', be fixed and the on the projection 51'.

A bent; rod 60' carrying an indicator 6| is fixed to the projection 51. This indicator 6| moves over a scale 62 on the base plate 2 so that the determined value can be read off directly. Instead of or 'in addition to a scale and a pointer, a contact arm and as many fixed contacts as there are units of value couldbe provided. In that case, a-circuit would at any time be closed corresponding to the ascertained value through which a tariff device can be electrically controlled. 1

In the example of construction now being decheck pawl be arranged scribed, the tariff device-is directly and mechanically controlled by means of the zone determining device. For this purpose, two pins 63 and 64 are provided on the projection 51 of the carrier 31 which are under the influence of springs -65. Each of these pins 63 and 64 has a disc 66 or '61 fixed to move with it. The armature 66 of an unillustrated electromagnet moves in front of these discs and in each of its positions holds one.of the discs 66, 61 back against the action of a spring 65 so that at any time only one pin 63 or 64 can project. In Figure 12, the armature 68 lies in front of the disc 61 and, consequently, holds back the pin 64. The pin 63, on the other hand, is free and bears against a meter stepping device 69 which is constructed as a storing wheel,

. The wheel 69 is freely mounted on the shaft 2l2 which traverses the base plate 2". It is provided with a spring housing 16 which is fixed on the shaft H2. The spring in this housing tends to rotate the storing wheel 69 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 13 but such rotation is prevented by the check pawl 12 which is resiliently pressed into engagement with the teeth 1! formed in the periphery of the storing wheel. A pin 13 is also provided on the storing wheel 69 which, in the normal position, bears against a movable stop 14 mounted on' the base plate and holds thisst'op against the action of a spring 15. The projection 14acts on a contact 90 which is reversed when the storing wheel 61 reaches its normal position. An electromagnet TM is also provided which, by means of the stepping pawl 16 which engages in the teeth 1| of the storing wheel 69, rotates the wheel 69 against the action of the clock spring in the casing 18.

There is a radial slot 11 in the storing wheel 69 which, in the normal position of the storing wheel, lies in front of the pins63 and 64 onthe carrier 31. This slot does not reach quite as far as the circumference of the storing wheel so that, in the normal position of the carrier 31,

the upper pin 63 cannot engage in the slot. If, 7

at various angles over the storing wheel 69. The

angular distance between two neighbouring holes in a row corresponds to a particular unit of value. For example, for seven different zone values corresponding to the selector setting, with the described arrangement, 14 difi'erent rows of holes are provided. The first seven of these rows of holes correspond to the seven tariffs for the different zones. The second seven rows of holes are for the purpose of enabling a switching over to a different tarifi? to be effected at particular times, for example, so that at night calls are charged at a cheaper rate. The first seven rows of holes are selected-by the pin 63 while the second seven rows of holes are selected by the pin 64. The switching over to the alternative tarifi' is effected by putting the pin 63 into action and the pin 64 out of action or vice-versa through energization or de-energization of the unlllustrated electromagnet controlling the armature 68. v

The series of holes in the storing wheel 68 are fixed once and for all whenthe tarifl is fixed.

,In order to make an alteration of the tariff device easy when the tariff is altered, these rows of holes are preferably stamped out of a disc of sheet steel fixed to the storing wheel 69 and which is changed when the tariff is altered A time disc 19 having a spring housing 89' is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2 I2. The spring in this housing 89 urges the time disc 19 into its normal position in which a pin 8! (Figure 12) on this disc bears against a projection H9 connected to the stationary shaft. 19 has teeth round its circumference in which a check pawl 82 can engage. An electromagnet ZM is also provided, the stepping pawl 89 of which allows the disc 19 to be stepped against the action of the spring in the housing 88. The stepping pawl 88 has a pin 84 which bears on a projection from the storing wheel check pawl l2 so that at each attraction of the electromagnet ZM, this check pawl is lifted out of the teeth H of the storing wheel 69. The time disc 19 is also provided with switch cams 86 at particular in-' a slotted part 99 which engages over a fixed pin 9| (Figure 16) and which lies in front of the pins 63, B4 of the carrier 31 and limits the mov-' ment of these pins under the action of their springs 65. When the member 89 returns into the position shown in Figure 12, the effective pin 69 is drawn away from the storing wheel 69.

However, before the pin 63 leaves theslot ill in the storing wheel, a check pawl 93, which is visible in Figures 13 and 16, is released by a projection '92 (Figure 16) of the member 99 and engages in the teeth ll of the storing wheel 69.

This check pawl 93' is'so arranged that its edge is dlsplaced relatively to the forward edge of the slot ll by half a pitch of the teeth ll. When the member 89 makes its return movement, the

pawl 93 will thus first of all engage in the teeth so that the pin 69 is removed from the slot 'l'l. As the return movement of the member 89 under the actionof a cam 85 on the cam 86 always takes place at the instant of energization of the magnet AM which steps the disc E9, the storing wheel check pawl i2 is lifted at this instant.

Thus, when thepin 63 comes out of the slot ill. the storing wheel 69 is released and, under the action of the spring in the, housing l8, moves in the direction of the arrow through half a pitch of the teeth 'li whereupon the movement is stopped by the check pawl l8.

' The movement of the member 89 only takes place for a short time. As soon as the cam 86 is again free, the member 89 is moved forward under the action of the spring 88. In this Way, the pin 69 is first-of all released and bears against the storing wheel under the action of its spring 65 and thus can no longer engage in the slot ll because the latter is displaced by half a tooth pitch. On the occurrence of the further forward movement of the member 89, the projection 92 is removed from beneath the check pawl 93 and lifts the latter. The storing wheel 69 is now again released and rotates until the pin 63 engages in the next hole of the series of holes selected by the height of the pin 63 in accordance with the ascertained value. The storing wheel 69 remains in this position until the next cam 95 of the time disc la-ab uts against the cam 86 on;

The time disc I meter.

the member 89. The time disc I9 is stepped at equal intervals of time, 5 seconds for example, by means of the electromagnet ZM. The arrangement of the cam on the periphery of the wheel l9 thus determines the instant at which a storing of the charge that is to be made according to the existing tarifl is to be effected by means of a rotation of the storing wheel. This occurs, for example, after the first 15 seconds after the setting into operation of the wheel 19, again after the expiration of the first three minutes and then again after the expiration of every subsequent minute up to a maximum of 12 minutes.

At each of these instants, the storing wheel 69 is released and is then rotated through the angular distance between the holes of the selected row. It can quite clearly be seen that in this way any desired graduation of a tariff can be obtained in that, for example, by means of the release after the first 15 seconds, a stepping takes place to a particular extent and by means of the release after each following minute, a stepping takes place through a smaller amount which can constantly increase.

In order to indicateto the subscriber the instant of time at which the charge storing operation for the call is undertaken, cams 94 are provided on the time disc 19 at the same intervals as the earns 85 which can actuate contacts through which, for example, the circuit for a buzzing signal is closed. These cams 94 are set at a small angular distance in advance of the cams 85 so' that on the periodical stepping of the time disc 19 by means of the electromagnet ZM, a cam 94 actuates a stationary contact about 10 seconds earlier than the next cam 85 comes into engagement withthe cam 86 on the member 89 for the purpose of releasing the storing wheel 69.

A further cam 95 is provided on the time disc #9 which has a somewhat greater length than the cam 94. After. a complete rotation of the time disc '39 which takes 12 minutes, this cam actuates a special contact not illustrated in the drawings through which, for example, the connection can be positively broken.

' An indicator 911 is also fixed on the shaft M2 by means of a screw 96 and a scale is arranged on the time disc E9 in suitable fashion so that the duration of the call can be read directly at any time by the degree of displacement of the time disc 19.

It is clear that the zone. in-which the called subscribers exchange is situated is first of all ascertained by displacement of the feeler 32 along the various intervals of time. .This rotation takes place through an angular amount which is determined by the distance between the holes of the series of holes selected by the height of the effective pin. At the end of the connection, metering current impulses, the number of which is dependent upon the charge amount that has been stored, have to be sent to the calling subscribers For'this purpose, pins 98 are arranged on the stnring wheel 69 at equal distances from each other which can work a contact g (Figure 13) The number of pins in this ring is a multiple of the number of teeth II on the storing wheel a. Thisisementialinorderthatvarlouscharges may be rounded oil. For example, if the night charge is only twofthirds of the day charge, then the angular distance betweentheholu oi the innermost seven rows of holes wiped over by the pin 84 must be exactly two-think of the outer seven rows oi holes wiped over by the pin 63. In this way, it can be obtained that although from instant to instant a further rotation of the storing wheel I takes place, no raising of the charge takes place. If the number oi'pins is a multiple oi the number of teeth II, then the storing wheel can he stepped through one or more teeth without causing a new pin .8 to one under the contact 17.,

The production of the metering current impulses by wiping oi the pins '8 overthe rollers 99 (Figure 13) controlling the contact g has the advantage that the emission of current impulses is eiiected with absolute accuracy and exactness, no distortion 'in the on occurring as may occur when the tra is eiiected by means of relays. Also, in this way, the sending of the meter current impulses is concluded by the time the wheel 6! has returned into gnormal position whereas, if the meter circuit were controlled by a contact itseli controlled by the electromagnet' which effects the step by step return movement of the storing wheel 88, it might easily happen that this electromagnet is not de-energised on reaching the normal position of the storing wheel 60, and, therefore, sends out iurther current impulses.

The electromagnet TM, the check pawl 16 of which engages the teeth II, is, as already mentioned, provided for returning the storing wheel 6!. In order that the storing wheel '0 may be rotated, the pin '8 or N which has been operativeuntilthenhastobelittedoutoithe selected series of holes. For this purpose, when the supervision oi the connection is ended, an electromagnet AM (Figure 16) is energised, the" armature of which has a projection Ill by means of which in a particular normal position. A pin III isfixed on the switch cam I and lies between two pins I06 oi the armature Ill so that on energiration of the electromagnet All, the shaft III is rotated against the action of the spring ill. On the occurrence of this rotary movement, a check pawl I is first all released by a projection "l1 0! the cam I and engages in the storing wheel teeth II. This check pawl III is so arranged that its-position of cut registers with the holes in the rows of holes, and thus is not displaced through half a tooth pitch relatively to the running edge of these holes as was the above mentioned check pawl II. By the engagement of the check pawl III, the position taken up by. the storing wheel I is maintained independently of the pins 83, '4.

On further rotation of the shaft III, the

oblique projection of a cam ll! abuts against the member I! and p this member towards'the base plate so that the pin 03 or N is, in the al-' After this return movement of the pins 0, 64, a projection ill of the cam I02 removes the check pawl I! out of the rack it so that the carrier 31 is lifted under the action of the spring N and separates the feeler 32 from the criterion carrier.

On further rotation of the shaft I ill, a cam Ill removes the check pawl 41 out of the rack I It so that the ieeler 32 returns into the normal position under the action of the spring 42 in which poflticn the contact m0 is actuated by the projection 48. When this movement occurs, the lower end of a pin H2 fixed to the rack 46 engages under the check pawl on the criterion carrier which has already been mentioned and which is not shown in the drawings and which is in' engagement with the toothed wheel 2". The check pawl is thus displaced and the criterion carrier is consequently released and rotates under the influence of the clock spring fixed to the plate 120 until its projection 225 abuts against normal position is reached. In this position the contacts w and ow are again reversed.

By means of the return of the carrier member I! intoits normal position, a rod H3 connected to the check pawl 82 and the free end of which lies on the upper edge oi the rack BI, is lifted so that the check pawl 82 is brought out of engagement with the time disc .18 and this disc, also under the influence oi the clock spring arranged in the spring housing 80, is returned into its normal position determined by.the stop 8i.

The energization oi. the electromagnet AM also has the result that 'thewhole of the hitherto displaced parts are returned with the storing wheel 69 into their normal positions. It is only this storing wheel which is held in the displaced position by the check pawl I08 and the check pawl 12. The electromagnet AM remains energized for the whole duration of the return movement. Thus, by means of the contact a, current impulses are sent out until the projection ll of the storing wheel abuts against the movable stop 14 whereby the-contact go is opened which causes the energization circuit of the electromagnets AM and TM to be broken.

' As already described, in this example of construction, the value of the call is determined by means 01' a downward movement of the carrier 31. tiple metering should take place in the first evalution so that on the determination of only a small value, the storing wheel 89' and the time wheel I! remain in their normal position. In order to obtain a positive dependence for this purpose, contacts emfl, eml, em2 (Figure 12) are closed by the member ill which is connected to the carrier member 31. The contact emll is closed when the carrier member is lowered through one step, the contact emi when the carrier member is lowered through two stepsfwhile the contact em! is only closed when the carrier member is lowered through at least three steps. For example, the circuit for the stepping magnet ZM oi the time disc 19 is first of all closed by this contact emZ so that thus a multiple metering can only take place in dependence upon the time and the established value when the product is at least 3. The contact eml can, for example, effect a metering by one step which is appropriate for local calls while other switching func- It may, however, be necessary that no mul- 1 the movable stop 226, that is to say, until the ence upon the rotation of the discs of the criterion carrier through large and small steps, then fixed contacts lid are arranged on the circumference' of the criterion carrier (Figure 15) which can be actuated by cams of the criterion carrier. In their simplest form, these cams are formed by stampings out of a sheet H5 which is inserted in one of the slits in the 'discs M3 and is connected in suitable fashion, by bending for example, to the last of these discs. In this way, it is possible to close circuits in particular OSltlliS of the criterion carrier.

By connecting the contacts, 5! which, on displacement of the feeler 32, are wiped over by the arm 50, to the contacts I M, it is possible, for each of the 1000 possible settings, to actuate the circuits corresponding to the setting of three selectors of the trunking scheme. This may be necessary in order, for example, to re-route the connection made by a. subscriber over'a simpler and shorter path.

The arrangement of the whole of the moving parts of the described time-zone meter on one side of a stationary base plate 2!! has the admagnets and mechanically controlled contacts is effected through a contact strip H6 (figure 12) which is arranged at the base in of the base plate 2H. The contacts MB of this strip H8 are made, in lmown fashion, as pins so that it the arrangement l H is fixed to a. frame, an electrical connection can be made without diiiiculty with the contact springs of a corresponding opposite strip. In this way, easy interchangeability of the described device is obtained.

We claim:

1. A device for time and zone metering in tele-i phone systems, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device and a movable meter stepping device, said time switch device being adapted at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of con-- versation to starta movement. of said meter stepping device, and said 'ineteEstepping device being provided with means adapted to limit the movement thereof to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and bytlie time interdevice being constructed as arotary disc, said disc being provided with means arranged in several concentric rows corresponding to the number of zone values and adapted to limit the rotation of said disc to an angle determined by the ascertained zone value.

3. A device for time and zone metering in telephone installations, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time 7 switch device and a movable meter stepping device, said time switch device being, provided with means for at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of conversation starting a movemerit of said meter stepping device and said meter stepping device being provided with means for limiting its such movement to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the time interval at that moment; the last named means'being arranged in" several groups, each group corresponding to a zone value and the means within each of said groups corresponding to a different interval of time.

4. A device for time and zone metering in telephone installations, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device constructed as a rotary disc and a meter stepping device, the disc of said time switch device being provided with cams arranged at particular angular distances for the production of energizations'for stepping the meter steppingmechanism at intervals of time and said meter stepping mechanism being provided with several groups of means, each group corresponding to a zone value and each means within one of said groups corresponding to a different inter- Y val of time, said means being adapted to limit the stepping of said meter stepping device to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the actual interval of time.

5. A device for time and zone metering in telephone installations with calling and called subscribers, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device, a movable meter stepping device, means associated with said time switch device for closing energizing circuits for starting amovement of said meter stepping device at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of conversation, means associated with said time switch device for signalling the calling subscriber, said meter stepping device being provided with means adapted to limit the movement thereof to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value andby the time interval at that moment; the last named .means being arranged in several groups, each group corresponding to a zone value and the means within each of said groups corresponding to a difierent interval of time.

6. A device for time and zone metering in telephone installations, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a

time switch device, a movable meter stepping device, means associated with said time switch device for starting a movement of said meter stepping device and means associated with said time switch device for signaling the calling subscriber and means for limiting the movement of said meter stepping device to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value, said signaling means being arranged so as to be actuated beforeactuation of said means for starting a movement of said meter stepping device.

7. A device for time and zone metering in telephone installations with calling and called subscribers, comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection between a calling and a called subscriber, a movable'meter stepping device and a time switch device, said time switch device being provided with means for starting a movement of said meter stepping device, with means for signaling the calling subscriber and with means for cutting off the connection at the expirationof a particular period of time when the called subscriber fails to reply, and said meter stepping device being provided with means for limiting its movement to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the actual interval of time. 

